Open your heart for HeartKids this February

Written on the 23 February 2012 by Retail Food Group

Write a message on the 'Wall of Love'

February 1 marks the beginning of HeartKids Awareness month when everyone is being encouraged to support Australia's little battlers who are struggling with Childhood Heart Disease (CHD). To celebrate, HeartKids' proud sponsors, the Retail Food Group, have embarked upon a national campaign; the 'Wall of Love' which will feature in 1,032 Michel's Patisserie, Donut King, Brumby's Bakeries, bb's cafe and Big Dad's Pies stores nationwide, where customers will be asked to write a message of love and support for the cause.
Customers will be given a 'paper heart', free of charge, to decorate and write a message of love and support to those children suffering from CHD. Their heart message will go onto the outlet's 'Wall of Love' alongside messages of support from a variety of celebrities including TV's favourite reality TV couple, Polly and Waz, Masterchef 2011 winner Kate Bracks, and Getaway star Catriona Rowntree. These hearts will then be given to CHD sufferers in hospitals Australia-wide.

"We are thrilled that we are able to launch such a heart-warming campaign that invites people to open their hearts and let these kids and their families know that they aren't suffering alone" says Tracey Catterall, Chief Marketing Officer, of the Retail Food Group. "The 'Wall of Love' gives us the opportunity to encourage our customer's through-out the Australia to get involved and help raise awareness of this devastating disease that kills 4 babies every week."

Alan Bowden, CEO of HeartKids Australia says: "The 'Wall of Love' really delves into the Australian psyche and generosity. It takes a just a few minutes to show support for Australia's little Heart Kids in a very genuine way."

In addition to the 'Wall of Love', participating outlets will also promote HeartKids Combo's through the month of February; Michel's Patisserie will offer a range of heart shaped products such as lamingtons and cupcakes, Donut King will offer heart-shaped donuts, while Brumby's will offer Heart Ginger Kids biscuits. 50 cents from all heart combo and heart product sales during February will be donated to HeartKids.

About HeartKids

HeartKids is a unique, not for profit organisation that offers support children and their families who are suffering with CHD. Each year approximately 2000 children are born in Australia with a heart defect, and every week, more than four children die from CHD. There is no cure for congenital heart disease and little is known about the disease and its causes.
HeartKids is unique in that it is the only organisation in Australia solely focussed on all aspects of children's heart disease. HeartKids works to:

Support families who have a child with heart disease
Reduce the incidence of Childhood Heart Disease
Decrease the mortality rates for Childhood Heart Disease sufferers

They do this by:

Employing Family Support Coordinators in each of the major children's hospitals throughout Australia
Running family and teen activities
Funding research into Childhood Heart Disease
Providing equipment and facilities to hospitals
Assisting families with travel and accommodation needs
Commissioning a white paper into the needs of sufferers from a clinical and community perspective
Advocating the needs of Childhood Heart Disease sufferers to Government

For a more information about HeartKids and CHDFs go to www.heartkidsaustralia.org.au